Government needs to show respect to nation’s veterans

It was late at night when I heard the sound of a rifle being fired. I rolled out of bed and crawled on the floor until I got to the window and looked out. “What’s wrong,” my first bride said.  It was then I realized that I was on the shores of Lake Michigan not DaNang, Vietnam. The sound I heard was a car backfiring. 

That was in September 1966. I had just returned to the Detroit area to be married. After spending the first couple of days of my first honeymoon at a lake side cabin on a small lake by Cadillac, Mich., I realized that it was to dark and isolated and I could not sleep so we headed to a city on the shores Lake Michigan. 

Little did I realize that my reaction that night would be just one of many Vietnam experiences that would come back to me on a regular basis for the next forty-years reminding me of the time I spent there.  Keep in mind that I was in what was considered a safe area at the air base. I lived in relative comfort and was protected by a fence with Marines patrolling throughout the area. 

I was just one of the millions of veterans who served in Vietnam. The war was all-around them all day every day. Generally speaking it was one big combat zone. 

There are now millions more veterans that have been or are facing a similar situation in the War on terrorism. The war is all around them 24/7.

When I make my trips to the VA in Durham I see visual proof that I was one of the very lucky ones. The veterans I see range from the very young to the very old. 

It is generally easy to spot the veterans who have physical wounds. Unfortunately the mental problems that veterans face are not as visible. Reports continue to reveal that present day veterans have a higher rate of stress related illness than at any time in history. They need medical care just like the ones with physical wounds.

Thankfully the stress of war does not immobilize most victims for their entire life. Veterans do have a higher rate of depression at some time in their life than the general public. Many are able to work through these problems and still contribute to society at a level that is necessary to take care of themselves and their loved ones. This is not the case for all veterans. 

A line from the recommended American Legion speech for Veterans Day states, “Too often today’s tattered citizen of the street was yesterday’s toast-of-the-town in a crisp uniform with rows of shining medals. This is hardly the “thanks of a grateful nation.”

Veterans represent about 13 percent of the population 18 and older. In the homeless population that percentage is 23 percent. In the male homeless population 33 percent are veterans. 

Forty-seven percent of the homeless veterans served in Vietnam. Sixty-seven percent have served more than three years in the armed forces. Of those in the homeless population 85 percent have a high school education. 

These figures should be an eye opener. We are not talking about a group of under achievers who don’t care about their future or their country. What is unknown in all these figures is how many of them suffer from mental health concerns. That figure is grouped in with the 76 percent who experience alcohol and drug problems. 

It is encouraging that of the homeless veterans 45 percent want and need help finding a job and 37 percent want and need help finding housing. 

What is forgotten in these figures and percentages is that each one is a real person. Each one did what they could for their country when asked. I don’t think any of them said to themselves, when they were serving their country that someday they would like to be homeless. 

In North Carolina it is estimated that there are 1,600 homeless vets. For those that are homeless there are only 182 funded beds to help them.

An article in the Washington Post on Oct. 30, 2007 states researchers at Harvard Medical School projected that about 1.8 million veterans overall lack health coverage. That’s an increase of 290,000 since 2000.

Over one third of veterans are over 65 years old. Veterans have the same problems the general population has when they reach retirement age, affordable healthcare. The difference is that Veterans have always been told that the VA health care services were there for them. 

In January 2003 the VA halted most new enrollments of veterans without disabilities. The one exception was those who are poor. The decision was made because of the massive backlog of patients waiting for care. Another way of saying not enough funding to hire the people needed to take care of the situation.

According to the Post article, in some areas veterans making as little as $24,000 a year do not qualify for health care from the VA. The backlog continues to the point that Congress has had to pass a law telling the VA to clean up their act.

The VA cannot say they didn’t see it coming. They may not have been able to predict the thousands of new VA patients as a result of the War on Terror. They did know how many vets were approaching retirement age and would probably not be able to find affordable healthcare.   

It always surprises me that Veterans as a group do not hold our government to the promises made to them and their families. An article in this month’s American Legion magazine highlights why they may not be holding the government to the commitment they made to veterans.

The article is Chaplain Lt. Col. Douglas A. Etter of New Wilmington, Penn., impressions of life for National Guard veterans returning from Iraq. The article mainly deals with the difficulty those servicemen have in getting back into daily life. Etter talks about a letter he wrote just prior to leaving Iraq. 

The letter deals with conversations he has had with soldiers while he was in Iraq. Etter writes, “I have not talked to one person who thinks America owes us (those serving in Iraq) anything. What we have done we have done freely and without compulsion. We do not expect reward or recognition.”

While veterans may not expect rewards or recognition they should expect to be respected for what they have done.

Another portion of the American Legions recommended Veterans Day address states the following:

When Congress refuses to pass mandatory funding for VA health care, veterans are disrespected. When heroes are denied access to VA facilities, veterans are disrespected. There is and has been continuous talk about supporting our veterans. Veterans know the importance of supporting the troops. They do not need any reminders of the sacrifice veterans make to insure every Americans freedom for this generation and generations to come.

If politicians feel that not supporting the war could be interpreted to not supporting the veterans, then they have to assume that when veterans hear about the lack of veterans care when they return that could also be interpreted as not supporting the troops.

When our fighting troops hear that their families are given the run-around when they need medical help, they could interpret that as not supporting the troops. 

In my opinion the best way the government can show their support of the troops is by insuring that every war funding bill provides money for the veterans that they are sending into battle.

Veteran’s benefits should always be considered part of the cost of war. When you talk about war debt you have to consider the debt that has not been paid to the veterans who cannot get veterans health care.

By including veteran’s benefits in all funding bills, it could show our fighting men and women that they do have the support of the country.  It is a way of saying we support you now and in the future. It is also a way of saying you were there for us now and we will be there for you in the future.

When we celebrate Veterans Day this year we should look to find ways to plant the seeds in our politician’s minds to make it a law that all war funding bills include veterans benefit money. This would be one way of showing veterans that they are appreciated and respected all year not just on Veterans Day.  

Maurice Emery is the Editor Emeritus of The Littleton Observer. In addition to regular news coverage for the paper, he also writes a weekly column.

Check out his blog at www.athoughtortwo.com

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